Masaaki Yamada

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Masaaki Yamada is a leading researcher in agricultural ergonomics and human-robot interaction, with a focus on reducing physical strain in specialty crop farming. His most cited work, "Workload Assessment with Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS) in Japanese Vineyards with Focus on Pruning and Berry Thinning Operations" (2012, 25 citations), represents a foundational contribution to the field. In this study, Yamada conducted a questionnaire survey in Yamanashi Prefecture to assess the heavy workloads faced by grape farmers during berry thinning and pruning, directly informing the adaptation of a wearable robotic suit—originally developed for human care assistance—to agricultural settings. This research bridges the gap between assistive robotics and viticulture, demonstrating how ergonomic assessment tools like OWAS can guide the design of exoskeletons to mitigate musculoskeletal risks. Yamada’s work has been instrumental in advancing precision ergonomics for agriculture, providing a data-driven framework for tailoring robotic support to specific, high-strain tasks. His contributions highlight the critical intersection of occupational health and automation, offering practical solutions to improve farmer well-being and productivity.